Author: Casino Connection Staff

Two new casinos translated into nearly 5,800 new casino jobs in Atlantic City by the end of 2018, according to figures from state regulators.

The city saw the Hard Rock casino and Ocean Resort casino open on the city’s Boardwalk in June.

With nine casinos operating, Atlantic City casinos reported total employment of 27,927 in December, an increase of 5,749 jobs over the number recorded in the final month of 2017 when only seven casinos were in operation.

The new casinos created 6,927 jobs, or nearly 25 percent of the total industry in December 2018. Total casino employment for the city topped 30,000 during July 2018 during the busy summer season.

The number of full-time jobs in December 2018 increased by 4,472 over the same month in 2017, while part-time positions went up by 16. Seasonal and on-call employment in casinos increased 32 percent over that time period, the report said.

In another Atlantic City matter, the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority approved new contracts with Spectra to continue to perform management services and food and beverage services for the Atlantic City Convention Center and Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

 Spectra is the hospitality arm of Comcast Spectacor, based in Philadelphia. The company will be paid a base management fee of $175,000 to run the two facilities.

A gaming analyst from Roth Capital Partners said in a report last week that the U.S./China trade war initiated by President Donald Trump may be hurting the share value of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which is headed by one of the top supporters of Trump and the Republican Party, Sheldon Adelson.

The report cited the visitation boom in Macau in its price target of $69, a moderate increase over the February 7 price of $59.18.

“Room availability should be the primary driver of forward Macau market share in an accelerated mix shift to mass driven by visitation,” the report said. “However, LVS share price momentum may remain relatively muted until there is a constructive conclusion to the U.S.-China trade war given upcoming concession renewals. If there is a constructive conclusion, we believe LVS will be one of largest share price beneficiaries in the public markets…

“Dependent on a constructive conclusion to U.S.-China trade negotiations, we believe there is increased risk for LVS and other U.S.-headquartered operators with a Macau presence with regard to concession renewals. Several investors have noted Mr. Adelson’s relationship to President Trump as potentially increasing this risk specifically for LVS. Continued below.

“Our $69 price target is based on a sum-of-the-parts model which applies a multiple of 14.5x CY19 EBITDA to the Venetian Macau, Cotai Central, Four Seasons Macau and Parisian Macau, 13.5x to Sands Macau, 12x to its Las Vegas portfolio and 14.5x to its Singapore portfolio. We then subtract a less a blended multiple of corporate expense as well as net debt, divided by shares outstanding. Factors which could impede shares from reaching our target price include: 1) The company’s inability to maintain market share in Macau as additional capacity enters the market; 2) the company’s inability to successfully negotiate a concession extension in Macau and 3) the company’s inability to maintain its dividend structure.”

New research from the American Gaming Association estimates that half of the 50 states in the U.S. will either legalize or examine legalizing sports betting in 2019.

The AGA estimated that $6 billion was wagered on the Super Bowl this year, the vast majority of that total consisting of illegal bets. Separate AGA research showed that 80 percent of the U.S. population is in favor of legalizing sports betting, and 66 percent of Americans believe regulation of sports betting should proceed solely at the state level.

At a conference call on sports betting two weeks ago, Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs, said betting on major sporting events has become an American tradition.

“Wagering on the Super Bowl is embedded into the fabric of the American culture,” Slane said. “In fact, Americans will bet 10 times more on the Super Bowl than they will spend on pizza and chicken wings the night of the game. Americans’ desire for legal sports betting is real and there is still plenty of work to do to eliminate the illegal market.”

A committee of the District of Columbia council recently voted 7-6 to approve a bill allowing it to hire a sports betting vendor without a bidding process. The measure, the Sports Wagering Procurement Practices Reform Exemption Act of 2019, also extends the contract with Intralot, the current D.C. Lottery vendor, without competition. A second reading and vote on the measure will occur later this month.

D.C. Lottery Executive Director Beth Bresnahan said the lottery should be able to launch sports betting in D.C. within six months of signing a new contract with Intralot. She noted the district’s chief financial officer said pursuing an open-bid process would have taken at least 27 months.

The controversial decision has been covered by local media. The City Paper ran a story pointing out connections between lobbyists supporting the bill and council members. Also prior to the vote, a Washington Post article called the no-bid decision a “sickening spectacle.” That story also noted numerous ties between lobbyists for the bill and a council member and questioned the city’s financial analysis which showed the city could lose tens of millions of dollars by a bidding process. The article stated, “The only thing base in this sports betting gamble is the concocted scheme to throw out competitive bidding in favor of a contractor who has an inside track. Council approval of this sole-source bill would be a travesty.”

Previously, At-Large Council Member Elissa Silverman said, “I think we are rushing this process unnecessarily. I think there is another way to do this without sole-sourcing the underlying lottery contract. We’re not only getting into the sports betting business, we are modernizing our lottery. I think there are both good governmental and practical purposes to separate these contracts.”

Also, iDEA Growth, an organization supporting the online gaming industry, said in a statement, “The D.C. Council’s vote today to sole source the entire lottery and sports wagering contract hinders competition and transparency within the district. By voting to establish a monopoly–that cannot be challenged–the D.C. Council has stripped away any opportunity for healthy competition and oversight in the sports betting market. This action erodes public trust in the process and strengthens illegal offshore websites.”

Also, American Gaming Association Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Sara Slane said the D.C. Council had “FOMO,” or Fear Of Missing Out.

“A huge motivating factor with adding gaming is wanting to be able to compete with nearby states. They don’t want to miss out on that opportunity,” she said.

The D.C. Lottery’s Intralot-operated online sports betting platform will be the only legal online sportsbook in the district, except for a few D.C.-based sports venues which will be allowed to have on-premise sports books.

For the first time in Virginia history, a casino bill passed the state Senate, 28-12, and moved on to the House. Senate Bill 1126 would let voters in Bristol, Danville and Portsmouth determine whether they want casinos to operate there. However, referendums could not be held until 2020. Also, the state would keep 90 percent of casino tax revenue.

In addition, the bill would direct the Virginia Lottery Board to develop and implement casino gambling regulations by June 20, 2020; the Lottery Board could not issue any gaming licenses before July 1, 2020. The measure also would require the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to prepare a study of other states’ casino gambling laws and report to Senate and House committees by November 1.

The original legislation proposed by state Senators Bill Carrico Louise Lucas recommended a 10 percent tax rate. However, state Senator Tommy Norment changed the measure to include a tax rate of 14 percent of adjusted gross receipts in a casino’s first year of operation, followed by a 13 percent tax rate on gross receipts of $200 million or less, 14 percent on $200-$300 million and 15 percent on $300 million or more.

Thirty percent of tax revenue proceeds would go to transportation projects; 30 percent to school construction; 10 percent to teacher raises; 10 percent to limit increases in tuition and fees at colleges and universities; 10 percent to casino host cities or counties; 9 percent to tourism; and 1 percent to a problem gambling fund the measure would establish.

Backers of the proposed $250 million Bristol Resort and Casino project at the vacant Bristol Mall expressed support for the legislation, although they had hoped a public referendum could be held this fall. In a statement, developers Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy said, “We are pleased that the Senate showed strong, bipartisan support today in passing SB 1126. This important legislation provides a roadmap for how Virginia can provide a significant economic development boost to those regions of the Commonwealth in desperate need of more jobs and additional revenue. As this bill continues through the legislative process, we will work with the House and Senate to make these projects a reality.”

Bristol City Manager Randy Eads cautioned, “There is still a lot of time left in the session for there to be additional changes with this version of the bill. I will continue to communicate with legislators and monitor it as things move through the House.”

Embattled Governor Ralph Northam’s proposed biennial budget includes $175,000 to fund a casino study. House Bill 2321, introduced by Del. Christopher Peace, would establish a 15-member Gaming Study Commission to analyze the state’s existing gaming industry, expanded gambling, sports betting, online gambling, tribal gambling and horseracing, with a January 1, 2020 deadline.

A controversial bill, S226 that sets supporters of Indian tribes against what is usually a natural ally, labor, has been revived. The bill, the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (TLSA,) would exempt tribes from the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act, and the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board.

Tribes argue that they should be exempt from those provisions since state governments are. They were until in 2004 the NLRB began asserting its authority to rule on tribal businesses.

Harlan Baker, the chairman of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, spoke in favor of the bill last week: “The TLSA would provide parity for all Indian tribes by ensuring that tribal government employers have the same opportunities as all other governmental employers to regulate labor relations with their government workforces.”

He added, “This legislation builds upon a principle that has been amply demonstrated by tribes across the country – when tribal sovereignty is respected and acknowledged, opportunity and economic success follows.”

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, who reintroduced the bill two weeks ago, declared, “It is time to correct a decade-old error made by the National Labor Relations Board and once again allow tribal governments, elected by their members, to possess the right to make informed decisions on behalf of those they represent.”

The bill is supported by 160 Indian tribes. Last week the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved it and moved it to the floor.

Senator John Hoeven, reelected chairman of that committee, observed, “We’re going to hit the ground running.”

During the last session the same bill was defeated on the Senate floor. Since it is likely to be very unpopular with Democrats, it could die a very quick death in the House. Previous versions were approved twice when it was ruled by the Republicans. The bill is opposed by most labor unions.

The NLRB was created by Congress in 1935 but until 2004 it never asserted its authority over Indian tribes. But as tribal casinos began to flourish, these businesses, which often employ non-tribal members, and are separate from tribal operations, came under increased scrutiny from the NLRB.

So far, the courts have supported the NLRB’s interpretation, which is the reason that TLSA was introduced. Recently a tribe, the Pauma tribe, which owns Casino Pauma in San Diego County challenged an NLRB in a case called Casino Pauma v. National Labor Relations Board, which has petitioned to heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bridgeport officials say their economically strapped city could use the stimulus of a casino whose plans have been retrieved years after it was first designed.

The delegation that represents the state’s largest city in the legislature has reintroduced a bipartisan bill from last year that would open the state to commercial bids for a third casino. The city isn’t mentioned, but it would obviously be one of the players since the main impetus for opening the state to commercial bids comes from MGM Resorts International.

More than a year ago MGM proposed a $675 million casino on the waterfront as part of its ongoing rivalry with the state’s two casino tribes. The casino would include a casino, 300-room hotel and would have access to Interstate 95 and Long Island via ferry.

Rep. Ezequiel Santiago, a sponsor of the bill, said the city is strategically placed to tap the New York state market. “That market is not saturated,” said the representative. “It’s open to the New York City and Long Island markets.”

The reintroduced bill would, “create a competitive bidding process for a resort-casino that would allow the state to choose a development with the most economic impact to the state.” It would also create a new entity called the Connecticut Gaming Commission. A nearly identical bill passed the House last year but died in the Senate, but Santiago says he thinks chances are better this year. In part because several senators who opposed it last year lost reelection bids.

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim supports the bill and hopes it might get traction if the newly installed governor Ned Lamont looks at the situation with fresh eyes.

“I think it creates an opportunity for an open and transparent process,” Ganim said. “The new governor’s been supportive on this and our delegation at large has been supportive on this.” He adds, “I think it could be a real benefit. I think all of the studies show it would be a huge success.”

Many residents in the area agree that it would bring jobs and entertainment to the area.

A casino in the state’s largest city is not a new idea. There are plans more than 20 years old that have never been acted upon.

Supporters also see it as a positive that a Bridgeport casino would shatter the existing tribal state gaming compacts that give the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Mohegans a monopoly on Las Vegas style gaming in return for the tribes paying 25 percent to the state—which they have done for a quarter century.

MGM argues that it will pay the state more than the $250 million the tribes paid last year—so the state will make out much better even if the compacts are no longer in force.

Councilman Ernie Newton, whose district includes the part of the city where the casino would be built, feels chances have improved for the city since the tribes decided they wanted to build an off reservation casino in East Windsor.

He points to the MGM National Harbor casino in Maryland as an example of a casino improving the surrounding economy of a city.

A patron of the Inside Winners off-track betting business in Bridgeport, commented “I think it’s going to work. Every time it gets closer and closer. I think Bridgeport needs it.”

But another customer warns that Atlantic City stands as a stark example to avoid. “You know why I wouldn’t want to see one here? What happened to Atlantic City.”

One reason the Bridgeport delegation feels empowered to bring up the issue is that the opposition of MGM to a commercial casino built by the tribes 14 miles from the MGM Springfield in neighboring Massachusetts has stalemated the tribes by preventing them from getting the federal nod that they need to amend their existing gaming compacts with the state, something that state law requires before they can operate.

However, another bill that has been filed would expunge that requirement, and let the tribes move forward.

There is also a report that a compromise is being worked out in the state capital to allow the tribes to build in East Windsor while allowing a competitive bid in another city, most likely Bridgeport.

Meanwhile tribal leaders testifying before the Public Safety and Security Committee repeated their accusation that the Department of the Interior was subjected to undue influence to not give the tribes the approval they needed to begin work on the proposed $300 million Tribal Winds Casino. This move came two days after Interior officials had assured the tribes that the approval was imminent.

They claim Nevada lawmakers leaned hard on former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke so that he reversed the pending approval. MGM is based in Nevada. Mohegan Tribal Council Chairman Kevin Brown declared, “We know through reporting that our compact amendments were in fact marked for approval before some last-minute lobbying by MGM.” He said he and Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler sat with department officials and asked them if they needed anything else.

“No, we’re ready to go,” Brown claims they said. He then notes that when the denial came, it was on a written correspondence that was CC’d to Nevada’s two U.S. Senators but not the to Connecticut delegation. “It was a coalescing of political interests and casino industry business interests to ensure that the state of Connecticut couldn’t compete on an equal footing for this market base.”

Zinke has been forced out under an ethical cloud and President Trump has nominated his successor, David Bernhardt, who is the acting secretary and before that was deputy secretary of the department. He has before that held several other positions within the department, including Solicitor, where he led the International Boundary Commission with Canada that maintains the international border between Canada and the U.S.

Brown and Butler say that are confident that once Bernhardt is confirmed that he will move forward on the approvals. But in the meantime, lawmakers removing the provision would be just as good.

Meanwhile the $965 million MGM Springfield has not been performing up to expectations, and not harming the tribes’ bottom line as much as had been feared. Because those expectations were inflated, the tribes question why MGM’s profit claims for a Bridgeport casino would be any more accurate. MGM’s profits have been 70 percent what it had predicted.

Committee member Senator Catherine Osten, who has introduced the bill, claims MGM hasn’t kept its promises to Springfield, while the tribes have always delivered to the state. Senator Dennis Bradley, who co-chairs the committee with Osten, and represents Bridgeport says he doubts their claims to be able to pay the state $70 million per year from the East Windsor Casino. He asked if they would be willing to put that amount in an escrow account.

Brown advised the senator to look at the $8 billion the tribes have already paid the state during the 25 years they have operated casinos.

“If this bill is about ‘the best deal for Connecticut,’ we are already providing it; if this bill is about development in Bridgeport, we are prepared to discuss it,” both chairmen stated.

Besides the federal approval, the tribes still need zoning approvals and some issues with homes near where they want to build.

The chairmen said they would be surprised if MGM didn’t file a lawsuit challenging them in federal court once they get those approvals. That prediction doesn’t take a seer since MGM has filed several lawsuits along every step of the way to trip up the tribes.

Andrew Doba, spokesman for MMCT Venture, the joint tribal gaming development authority, questioned the reliability of MGM to develop the casino it says it can build in Bridgeport. “Why does anyone take them seriously?” he said.

Twenty Bay State lawmakers took a tour of the $960 million MGM Springfield last week and discussed how it is impacting the surrounding and state economy. The jaunt was part of the 2019-2020 Commonwealth Conversations tour, which also included Worcester, Fall River, Brockton and Lowell.

Springfield Senator James Welch was the host, joined by MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis, who provided details and answered the questions of the lawmakers and their staffs.

Welch praised “all the exciting opportunities MGM is providing, not only from a gaming standpoint and an entertainment standpoint but really from an economic standpoint in the neighborhood and really in the region.” He called the casino “an overwhelmingly positive experience” and said the 3,000 jobs it provided was an economic boost to the downtown area.

Mathis patted his own casino on the back, noting that “Restaurants around us are booming, hotel occupancy around us is going up, and we’re providing careers to people that were desperate for some economic development,” and adding, “You walk the floors and you’re going to see people that bought their first homes, that are really on their first jobs and on their way to careers. It’s really a great story.”

Senator Michael J. Rodrigues said that he was “just so impressed. “It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s immaculate. It’s busy. People are happy. We are quite impressed with the thought and the forethought that went into designing this facility. So kudos to the MGM family.”

Senator Eric Lesser, who represents the area, called the tour “our chance to show off Springfield a little bit and show off this project.”

Senator Michael Moore remarked on the diversity of the jobs, especially middle class jobs, that are provided by the casino, noting that it filled a needed.

The casino company is negotiating with the city of Springfield to manage Symphony Hall, according to the Republican. The casino won the competitive bid over an offer by Lexington-based Spectacle Management Inc. CAO Timothy J. Plante reportedly told the newspaper, but the review committee wants to keep the process confidential, as state law requires. So it is not admitting publicly that MGM has won the bid for a five-year contract.

However, the apparent losing bidder, Spectacle Management, let the cat out of the bag when he told the paper that the city had begun negotiations with MGM. The casino company currently manages the MassMutual Center near the casino, and would like to manage Symphony Hall, which would help it to fulfill some of its obligations to up the quality of musical shows in the downtown.

Its Host Community Agreement commits MGM to underwriting, co-promoting, booking and scheduling at least three events annually at Symphony Hall and four events at the MassMutual Center.

Whichever company wins the contract would take over management of the hall by March 1, replacing the former manager, whose contract expired in December.

Encore Boston Harbor

Two weeks ago Wynn Resorts and the Nevada Gaming Control Board concluded an agreement that ends the panel’s more than 12-month probe of the company and its former CEO’ and founder Steve Wynn’s alleged sexual malefactions.

In the light of the conclusion of that investigation, Wynn CEO Matt Maddox assured jittery investors during the fourth-quarter earnings call that he is confident of reaching a similar arrangement with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which has similar concerns and has conducted a similar investigation to determine the continued suitability of the company to hold a license for the Encore Boston Harbor, due to open this June.

Both investigations were launched in the heels of revelations from an expose published in January 2018 by the Wall Street Journal. Their purpose was to discover just how much executives knew of and covered up for Wynn’s alleged misconduct, which Wynn continues to deny. They also wanted to know if the new company culture and workplace environment fostered by the apparently squeaky clean CEO Maddox is sufficiently different from the old company culture.

The Nevada panel hit the company with an undisclosed fine and could also fine Wynn himself, although he no longer is connected with the company. The company admitted to wrongdoing and Wynn Las Vegas President Maurice Wooden resigned after admitting that he knew about some of the accusations against the CEO.

There have been some reports and demands for the MGC to yank Wynn’s license, but Maddox sounded optimistic that wouldn’t happen. He told investors “I’m sure you saw the press. Settled here in the state of Nevada on the regulatory issues. Everything except the fine. I want to commend the regulators for the extensive and thorough work that they’ve done in Massachusetts. They’ve taken this extremely seriously and I think that they’ve done a very good job and we’re now just looking forward to a hearing and for us to present our case.”

The new controlling owner of Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort—formerly the Revel casino—is a New York based hedge firm Luxor Capital Group.

The firm has no connection to the Luxor casino in Las Vegas.

Former owner, Colorado-based real estate developer Bruce Deifik’s announced in January that the casino’s ownership was changing hands, but did not provide details of the deal including identifying Luxor.

However, according to the Press of Atlantic City, Deifik purchased the former Revel Casino Hotel in January 2018 for $229 million using a combination of financing from Luxor and J.P. Morgan Chase. The funding consisted of two bridge loans: $110 million from JPMorgan Chase Bank and $122.5 million from Luxor. The J.P. Morgan loan was repaid in June with a second loan from J.P. Morgan of $175 million.

Luxor now takes over the ownership and operating interest of Deifik and his family. Deifik initially said he would retain a small, non-controlling interest in the property but an announcement form Luxor said Deifik no longer has an interest in the property. However, AC Ocean Walk, a holding company of which Deifik was the chairman, is still the property’s casino license holder, according to the Press.

Since opening in June, Ocean Resort has struggled in the city’s crowded casino market. Luxor, however, has said it will make a $70 million investment into the property.

“We are incredibly proud of the progress our team members have made in establishing Ocean Resort Casino as one of the premier gaming and leisure destinations in the United States,” said Frank Leone, CEO of Ocean Resort Casino in a press release. “We opened up the property even more effectively to the Boardwalk, and activated retail spaces and food and beverage options that have been extremely well-received by our guests.”

Luxor’s investment is to include a new buffet, additional suites and rooms and investments on the casino floor. It also plans “a substantial increase” in its entertainment programming and player events in 2019.

According to a news release, the company expects to formally invest the $70 million this month pending the regulatory approvals and final documentation. The proposed investment will help fund the 2019 projects and provide the casino with more financial flexibility, the release said.

Once the investment is approved, Luxor will undergo the licensing process by New Jersey gaming regulators.

Until Luxor receives interim licensing approvals—which could take between 90 to 120 days—a trust will be created for the purpose of holding the shares of the parent entity to AC Ocean Walk, the current license holder.

A trustee, who will be appointed upon closing of the $70 million investment, will oversee this trust until Luxor receives its interim authorization, at which point the trustee will be removed. The company expects no operational effects from the temporary existence of the trust, the release said.

According to the release, the company has approximately $3.2 billion in assets under management and pursues an “event-driven” strategy to investment. The casino has already announced an expanded entertainment lineup that includes performances by the Isley Brothers, .38 Special, the Monkees, Jethro Tull, Brooks & Dunn and more.

Ocean Resort is the former Revel casino, a $2.4 billion resort, which opened in 2012 and closed two years later. Deifik’s group re-opened it as Ocean Resort in June. The casino reported $101 million in total gaming revenue in 2018, including about $8.4 million from its William Hill Sportsbook.

The Hard Rock Atlantic City has opened its own live and online sports book at its Boardwalk casino making it the eighth casino sportsbook to open in Atlantic City.

All nine of the city’s casinos now offer sports betting, though Caesars casino is still sharing a temporary live facility with Bally’s Atlantic City.

Hard Rock received approval to launch soft play from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement more than a week ago and was able to get play fully started in time for the Super Bowl.

“We couldn’t be more excited to launch our online and land-based sportsbook, providing our guests and players the opportunity to bet on football’s big game this weekend,” said Joe Lupo, Hard Rock president in a press release. “Players will be able to enjoy a full range of bets on the game, as well as all other major sporting events across the calendar, with exciting promotions and events coming soon. “

Hard Rock is the former Trump Taj Mahal casino and opened in June. While most Atlantic City casinos began offering sports betting shortly after play went live in the state—also in June—Hard Rock was delayed due to issues with the company’s stadium naming rights deal with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Those issues were reportedly worked out due to changes in NFL policy involving casino gambling.

“The launch of the sportsbook at HardRockSports.com is another milestone on our journey to becoming the most innovative and comprehensive online gaming service for players in the State of New Jersey” said Kresimir Spajic, senior vice president of online gaming at Hard Rock International. “Sports are integral to New Jersey’s culture and HardRockSports.com provides fans with the best platform to bet on their favorite teams and sporting events.”

Both the land-based and online sportsbook at Hard Rock are powered by Gaming Innovation Group.

In another matter, a recent report by njgamblingsites.com bears out a trend in the state’s sports betting market that has been suspected by analysts. Namely, that residents of neighboring Pennsylvania and New York cross the state line to make bets.

Lindsay Slader, VP of regulatory affairs for GeoComply, a geolocation company used by most New Jersey gambling sites told the website that the majority of online bets placed in the state are made within 10 miles of the state’s borders.

New Jersey law that bets at online sites be made within the state’s borders, but do not require players to be state residents. Software like GeoComply are used to ensure players are in New Jersey when they bet.

According to Slader, approximately 80 percent of all geolocation hits in New land within 10 miles of the New Jersey border and about 44 percent of users are within 2 miles of the state line, the website reported.

“They’ll make the trip over,” Slader said, “Walk over a bridge or hop on a train and stand in the station in Jersey City, then turn back around once they’re done placing their bets. It’s very much part of the betting experience,” Slader said, “for people close to those borders.”

Officials for DraftKings and Fanduel—which both operate online sportsbooks in the state—also recently told the New York Post that about 10 percent of their customers have New York addresses.

Also, sports betting company Bet.Works announced continues to it had hired Marc Brody as Senior Vice President of Business Development ahead of its launch of a New Jersey sports betting app for sports media company theScore.

Brody, most recently of sports betting operator SBTech, will be responsible for defining opportunities for growth across the US while also overseeing company business development.

“Bet.Works is by far the most dynamic technology provider in the industry and its enterprise-grade sports betting platform is precisely what operators in the US have been seeking,” Brody said in a press release. “Bet.Works is solely focused on the US market, which will provide our partners with a unique advantage over the current competition. I am thrilled to be a part of this exceptional team and look forward to driving the expansion of Bet.Works’ products and managed services.”

Bet.Works plans to first launch operations in New Jersey. Media company theScore will utilize Bet.Works for its mobile platform and will partner with Monmouth Park Racetrack, the release said.

Finally, Evolution Gaming announced that it will supply its live-dealer services to DraftKings online casino in New Jersey.

“DraftKings is a young and dynamic company that has blazed a trail in recent years with its best-in-class technology and extensive knowledge of sports,” said James Stern, CBO of Evolution in a press release. “DraftKings was first to market in New Jersey with online sports betting, just a couple of months after filing for its license with the New Jersey regulators. We very much look forward to working with DraftKings on this project.”

Evolution has a broadcast studio in Atlantic City and provides live dealer action for several online casino sites in the state.